New Delhi: In a significant diplomatic outreach to Africa, President Droupadi Murmu, on her first state visit to Angola, reaffirmed India’s commitment to deepening its partnership with the southern African nation, identifying energy cooperation as the cornerstone of bilateral relations. The visit marks a milestone moment, coinciding with both Angola’s 50th Independence Day celebrations and the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
Addressing a joint press interaction with her Angolan counterpart, President João Lourenço, in Luanda, President Murmu highlighted that India and Angola share a “vibrant energy partnership” that forms the basis of their growing trade relationship. Angola, rich in hydrocarbons and one of Africa’s leading oil producers, has become a key supplier of crude oil to India, placing New Delhi among Luanda’s top three trading partners.
President Murmu underlined that India’s focus on energy cooperation goes beyond oil imports. She spoke of expanding collaboration in renewable energy, refining capacity, and energy security initiatives. “Our partnership reflects a shared vision of sustainable growth and mutual prosperity,” she said, adding that both nations can work together to ensure energy access and stability in the Global South.
While energy remains central to bilateral ties, both nations agreed to diversify their engagement into new areas. President Murmu announced India’s readiness to cooperate with Angola in agriculture, technology, defense, digital public infrastructure, and marine resource management. She also emphasized India’s success in building robust digital platforms and offered to share technical know-how to help Angola modernize its public systems.
In addition, the two leaders discussed the possibility of joint ventures in diamond cutting and processing, mining of rare earths, and improved connectivity through the aviation and maritime sectors. President Murmu stated that such collaborations would “expand opportunities for both nations and strengthen South–South cooperation.”
The visit also witnessed the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) designed to institutionalize cooperation across multiple sectors. These included agreements on defense cooperation, cultural exchanges, Ayurveda and traditional medicine, as well as new pacts in fisheries, aquaculture, and marine resources.
A significant development was the Air Services Agreement, which aims to improve people-to-people connectivity and facilitate tourism and business links. Both sides agreed that direct or increased air connectivity would boost bilateral trade and make it easier for entrepreneurs, professionals, and students to engage across borders.
President Murmu’s visit comes at a highly symbolic juncture. Angola is celebrating its golden jubilee of independence, while India–Angola diplomatic relations have completed four decades. This historic coincidence added depth to the visit, with President Murmu describing it as “a celebration of shared friendship and progress.”
India is currently Angola’s second-largest trading partner after China, accounting for around 10% of its total foreign trade. The visit reflects India’s strategic push to strengthen its presence in Africa through diversified economic partnerships that combine traditional trade with modern technology, skill development, and knowledge sharing.
India’s engagement with Angola also fits into its broader Africa strategy, which aims to promote energy security, enhance trade diversification, and foster South–South partnerships. By collaborating with resource-rich nations like Angola, India seeks to reduce its dependence on Middle Eastern energy supplies and gain stable access to critical minerals essential for green technologies.
Furthermore, Angola stands to benefit from India’s developmental model, which emphasizes low-cost technology, capacity building, and inclusive growth. The collaboration promises to bring tangible economic benefits to both sides spurring infrastructure development, creating employment opportunities, and enhancing regional stability.
Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a partnership based on equality, mutual respect, and shared growth. President Murmu stressed that India and Angola can jointly address challenges such as climate change, food insecurity, and technological inequality. She also invited Angolan students, officials, and professionals to take advantage of India’s capacity-building programmes under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) framework.
While the signing of MoUs marks a new chapter in India–Angola relations, their success will depend on how effectively both countries convert these agreements into actionable projects. Experts note that operationalizing initiatives in defense, agriculture, and technology will require continued diplomatic engagement, regulatory support, and private-sector participation.
Nevertheless, the tone of the visit was clear: both India and Angola envision a partnership that goes beyond transactional trade. They aim for a long-term developmental alliance that leverages energy cooperation as a bridge to shared prosperity.
President Droupadi Murmu’s visit to Angola has not only revitalised the long-standing India–Angola friendship but also given it a new strategic direction. By placing energy at the heart of cooperation and broadening the scope of engagement across diverse sectors, the two nations are charting a course toward a more sustainable and balanced global partnership. As both countries look to the future, their growing collaboration stands as a testament to how energy, technology, and mutual trust can together fuel a new era of South–South solidarity.